At this point the door of the room was opened, and Neil Doherty, bowing
on the threshold, announced that supper was served. And we remembered
that Uncle Luke must be hungry, and his mother reproached herself, while
he remembered for the first time that he had not eaten for many hours.
I don't know how Neil had managed it in the time, but the house was lit
from top to bottom and the servants were standing in a line for us to
pass through, all with happy faces. And Maureen stood at the head of
them, as though she only had the right.
Uncle Luke gave his arm to my grandmother and I took my grandfather's,
and we went up in state, with old Dido following us, to the
dining-room, where supper was spread and all the silver plate was set
out. There was a roaring fire in the grate and every candle in the big
chandelier had been lit, and all was as though the coming of the heir
had been long foreseen.
I do not think that in any house in the kingdom there was that night
such joy and thanksgiving as in Aghadoe Abbey.
CHAPTER XXXVI
THE OLD LOVERS
After a little while I went away and left them together.
Uncle Luke came with me to the dining-room door and lit my candle for me
as though he had never gone away.
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